Key takeaways
- Ivermectin oral tablets are prescribed to treat infections like strongyloidiasis and river blindness. Doctors determine your dosage based on your body weight in kilograms.
- The medication should be taken as directed, and it’s important to consult with a healthcare professional regarding missed doses or potential overdoses, with specific guidance provided for each situation.
- Ivermectin is not FDA-approved for treating COVID-19, and you should not take animal formulations or unprescribed dosages. Instead, rely on a doctor’s recommendations.
Overview
This article describes ivermectin oral tablet’s dosages and strengths and gives details on how to take it. You’ll also find information on cost savings and coupon options for ivermectin.
If you want to know more about ivermectin oral tablet, see this ivermectin overview article. It covers details about the drug’s uses, its side effects, ways to save on cost, and more.
Ivermectin oral tablet is a generic version of the brand-name drug Stromectol. Ivermectin also comes in prescription and over-the-counter topical forms, but those forms aren’t described in this article. To learn more about those forms, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.
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Form and strengths of ivermectin
Ivermectin oral tablet comes as follows:
- Form: a tablet that you swallow
- Strengths: 3 milligrams (mg), 6 mg
Dosage of ivermectin
This article describes the recommended dosages for ivermectin oral tablets. The drugmaker provides these recommended dosages.
If your doctor prescribes this medication, you should follow the dosage they prescribe. Your doctor will determine the dosage that best meets your needs. Do not change your dosage of ivermectin oral tablet without your doctor’s recommendation.
Usual recommended dosages of ivermectin in adults and children
Ivermectin oral tablet is approved to treat strongyloidiasis infection and river blindness infection. It’s approved to treat these conditions in:
- adults
- children who weigh at least 15 kilograms (kg), which is about 33 pounds (lb)
Dosages of ivermectin oral tablet are given in micrograms (mcg) per kg of body weight, or mcg/kg.
Note: For reference, 1 kg is about 2.2 lb.
Dosage for strongyloidiasis infection
The recommended dosage of ivermectin to treat strongyloidiasis infection is 170 to 200 mcg/kg. In its dosage guidelines, the drugmaker includes a specific number of tablets per dose. This helps your doctor determine the correct number of tablets needed to attain your specific dosage.
The dosage table below shows body weight in kg and lb. It also shows the number of tablets you’ll take per dose.
| Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Number of 3-mg tablets per single oral dose | Number of 6-mg tablets per dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 24 kg | 33 to 52 lb | 1 | 0.5 |
| 25 to 35 kg | 55 to 77 lb | 2 | 1 |
| 36 to 50 kg | 79 to 110 lb | 3 | 1.5 |
| 51 to 65 kg | 112 to 143 lb | 4 | 2 |
| 66 to 79 kg | 145 to 173 lb | 5 | 2.5 |
| 80 kg or greater | 176 lb or greater | 200 mcg/kg | 200 mcg/kg |
For example, assume a doctor prescribes ivermectin oral tablet to an adult who weighs 70 kg (about 154 lb). Using the dosage table, the doctor would prescribe five 3 mg tablets per dose.
Your doctor will test your stool after treatment to confirm that the parasites are gone. Usually, you won’t need to take any additional doses to treat a strongyloidiasis infection.
Dosage for river blindness infection
The recommended dosage of ivermectin to treat river blindness infection is 150 mcg/kg. In its dosage guidelines, the drugmaker includes a specific number of tablets per dose. This helps your doctor determine the correct number of tablets needed to attain your specific dosage.
The dosage table below shows body weight in kg and lb. It also shows the number of tablets you’ll take per dose.
| Body weight in kg | Approximate body weight in lb | Number of 3-mg tablets per single oral dose | Number of 6-mg tablets per single oral dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 to 25 kg | 33 to 55 lb | 1 | 0.5 |
| 26 to 44 kg | 57 to 96 lb | 2 | 1 |
| 45 to 64 kg | 99 to 140 lb | 3 | 1.5 |
| 65 to 84 kg | 143 to 184 lb | 4 | 2 |
| 85 kg or greater | 187 lb or greater | 150 mcg/kg | 150 mcg/kg |
For example, assume a doctor prescribes ivermectin oral tablet to a child who weighs 20 kg (about 44 lb). Using the dosage table, the doctor would prescribe one 3 mg tablet per dose.
Your doctor will test your skin after treatment to confirm that the parasites are gone. You may need additional doses to treat a river blindness infection.
Dosage adjustments for ivermectin
Your doctor will prescribe a dosage of ivermectin oral tablet based on several factors. These include:
- the specific condition being treated and how severe it is
- your weight
- other health conditions you may have
Missed dose of ivermectin
Talk with your doctor or pharmacist right away if you realize you forgot to take your dose of ivermectin oral tablet. Typically, you take it as a single dose, but some infections may require additional doses. Your doctor or pharmacist can advise you when to take your dose of ivermectin oral tablet.
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Get free cardFrequently asked questions
Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about ivermectin oral tablet and its dosage.
Can ivermectin treat COVID-19 (which is not an approved use)?
No, ivermectin is not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat or help prevent COVID-19. The FDA issued a warning statement about the dangers of taking ivermectin in large doses or for unapproved uses such as COVID-19.
It’s also not safe for humans to take ivermectin that’s meant for animals. (Ivermectin prescribed for animals is very different than ivermectin prescribed for humans.)
Do not take any prescription drug, including ivermectin, unless your doctor recommends that you do so. If you have questions about the use of ivermectin to treat or prevent COVID-19, talk with your doctor.
Is ivermectin used in dogs? If so, what’s the dosage?
Ivermectin is prescribed to treat certain infections caused by parasites in animals such as dogs. But ivermectin made for use in humans isn’t the same as ivermectin made for use in animals.
The recommended dosage of ivermectin for dogs depends on the type of infection it’s being prescribed to treat. Your veterinarian will use your dog’s body weight to calculate their dosage.
Talk with your veterinarian about ivermectin and the dosage that’s right for your dog. To treat your dog’s condition, give only ivermectin that’s prescribed by a licensed veterinarian.
Can ivermectin be taken for scabies? If so, what’s the dosage?
No, ivermectin isn’t approved to treat scabies, which is a type of skin infection. For this reason, the drugmaker doesn’t have a recommended dosage.
But some doctors may prescribe ivermectin for scabies off-label. With off-label use, doctors prescribe a drug for a purpose other than what it’s approved to treat or help prevent.
Talk with your doctor to learn more about this condition and how to treat it.
Is ivermectin taken long term?
No, doctors don’t typically prescribe ivermectin oral tablet as a long-term treatment. Instead, it’s usually recommended as a single dose.
Your doctor will do follow-up testing after your treatment. They may recommend additional doses of ivermectin for river blindness infection. For strongyloidiasis infection, you usually won’t need any additional doses.
If you have questions about how long you should take ivermectin oral tablet, ask your doctor.
How ivermectin is taken
You’ll swallow ivermectin oral tablet whole. You’ll likely take it as a single dose. The drugmaker recommends taking the medication with water on an empty stomach. This means you’ll take the drug at least 1 hour before or 2 hours after eating.
The drugmaker doesn’t state whether the tablet can be broken, split, crushed, or chewed. For this reason, it’s recommended that you swallow the tablets whole. If it’s hard for you to swallow tablets, view this article on how to swallow pills.
Also, be sure to talk with your doctor or pharmacist if you’re having difficulty taking your medication. They can offer recommendations about taking it.
Ivermectin coupon
Visit this ivermectin coupon page to access Optum Perks coupons and get price estimates for ivermectin when you use the coupons. These coupons can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.
Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with insurance copays or benefits.
You can also refer to this in-depth ivermectin article for details about treatment costs.
Overdose of ivermectin
It’s important that you do not take more ivermectin oral tablet than your doctor prescribes. Doing so can lead to harmful effects.
Symptoms of ivermectin overdose
Symptoms of an overdose can include:
- disorientation
- confusion
- drowsiness
In extreme cases, overdose can lead to coma.
What to do if you take too much ivermectin
If you think you’ve taken too much ivermectin, call your doctor or pharmacist right away. Or you could call 800-222-1222 to speak with someone at America’s Poison Centers. You can also use its online resource. If you have severe symptoms, call 911 or a local emergency number immediately. You can also go to the closest emergency room.
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Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.